Austin Peay State University vs South College
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN | South College Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -56% | +11% |
| 10-year net gain | $-25,967 | $8,665 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $47,046 | $53,690 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $36,247 | $54,999 |
| Average net price | $9,735 | $17,858 |
| Median debt | $20,547 | $18,668 |
| Break-even | 22.7 yrs | 9 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 40% | 42% |
| Admission rate | 96% | — |
Austin Peay State University
Poor return
$-25,967 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
South College
Break-even
+$8,665 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.